Article summary

• Hot cars pose a serious, year-round risk to pets, with interior temperatures rising dangerously fast—an outside temperature of 70°F can turn into 119°F inside a closed car within 60 minutes, leading to heatstroke, organ damage or death.
• Watch for warning signs of heat-related illness in pets, including excessive panting, drooling, weakness and loss of coordination, and never leave a pet alone in a parked vehicle—call 911 immediately if you spot one unattended in a hot car.
• To travel safely with pets in summer, carry at least one gallon of water, offer hydration every two hours, use sunshades to reduce cabin temperatures and plan trips during cooler morning or evening hours when possible.

Hot cars are a year-round threat to pets, but when summer temperatures peak, the window of time one can survive being trapped in a vehicle becomes alarmingly short. According to TotalVet, hundreds of pets die each year from vehicle-related heatstroke. And as a car safety advocate for more than 100 years, AAA has prepared a list of tips to help you avoid these heat-related dangers. 

How quickly can a car heat up for pets?

In a short amount of time, your vehicle can reach a temperature that puts your pet at serious risk. Even on a mild day, a vehicle's interior temperature can rise rapidly, putting pets at risk of heatstroke, organ damage and death within minutes.

The table below indicates how quickly the temperature inside a closed car increases based on the outside temperature. 

Signs your pet may be suffering from heat-related illness

Pet owners should watch for:

• Excessive panting
• Difficulty breathing
• Excessive drooling
• Weakness or lethargy
• Vomiting
• Stumbling or loss of coordination
• Collapse or loss of consciousness

If you suspect heatstroke, move your pet to a cooler location immediately and seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

Safety advice to protect pets in vehicles

AAA recommends the following tips to help avoid heat-related dangers for pets:

• Never leave a pet alone in a parked vehicle, even for a minute, and always check the back seat before leaving your car.
• If circumstances don't permit you to take your pet indoors with you (e.g., a store or restaurant that doesn't allow pets), use technology assists like the Rear Seat Reminder alert that comes standard on most modern vehicles. These alerts can help remind drivers to check the back seat before exiting the vehicle.
• In a similar scenario, consider investing in a car pet safety heat alarm. Like all other seasons, people put pets in cars in summer, but because of how quickly temperatures can climb in the longer, sun-drenched months, a car pet safety heat alarm is a must. These alarms monitor vehicle temperature and trigger audible and/or visual alerts if the cabin exceeds a safe temperature.
• Place an essential item, like a phone or purse, in the back seat as a reminder. This simple routine can help prevent you from leaving pets unattended in hot vehicles.
• Call 911 immediately if you see a pet alone in a hot car. Some states have Good Samaritan laws that allow civilians to forcibly enter a vehicle to rescue a pet. But in all states, calling for emergency help is both permitted and encouraged. 

Additional ways to travel safely with pets in the summer

A GlobalVetLink survey from 2024 found that about 78% of American pet owners traveled with their pets, and there's no doubt many of these travels occurred during the summer, a critical time of year to prioritize your pet's safety and wellbeing.

Aside from monitoring the temperature in your car's cabin and never leaving pets unattended in an enclosed car, be sure to always have one gallon of water on hand, as well as a portable water bowl. Offer water to your pet at least every two hours during travel and more frequently if you notice excessive panting on particularly hot days.

Dogs generally need 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day under normal circumstances. A 10-pound dog would need a little more than a cup of water a day, and a 50-pound dog would need about 6-7 cups per day. If traveling with a cat, remember that our feline friends should drink about 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water per 5 pounds of their body weight. A 10-pound cat would need about one cup of water per day.

Additional summer travel tips for pets include:

• Travel during cooler morning or evening hours when possible.
• Use sunshades to help reduce cabin temperatures.
• Never allow pets to ride unrestrained in a moving vehicle.
• Bring extra water on long road trips and outdoor adventures.
• Plan ahead for pet-friendly rest stops where your pet can safely cool down.

Don't fear the heat; instead, use caution

Summer travel with a pet should be safe and comfortable. With the right precautions met, it can be one of the best times of year to get out and enjoy all that the longer days and sunny landscapes can offer. As always, just plan ahead, put safety first and enjoy the ride with your pets.